Control valve device



1944- R. R. STEVENS 2,355,758

dON'IROL VALVE DEVICE Qriginal Filed Oct. 29, 1942 STOP STOP

SLOW SLOW AHEAD A'STERN I03 H2 I07l0 4- II I IIO I02 00 I "9H4- IOB E 7 H2 Ill 1 H3 in FULL START START INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented AugJS, 1944 GONTROL VALVE DEVICE Roy R. Stevens, Forest Hills, Pa., assignor to The. Westinghouse Air Brake Company, Wilmer-ding, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Original application October 29, 1942, SerialNo. 463,792. Divided and this application October 2,1943, Serial No. 504,702

7 Claims.

This invention relates to control valve devices and more particularly to the manually operative type for controlling pressure of fluid in a plurality of pipes; the present application being a control device.

is a diagrammatic sectional view of the improved 7 Description As shown in thedrawing, the improvedlcontrol device comprises aicasing'in which a rock shaft I00 is jpurnaied. A lever I0lis securedto shaft I00 to turn same to a plurality of different positions such as indicated by lines and legends in l the thawing. Twocams I02 and I03 are secured to turn with the shaft I00, the cam I02 being provided to control the operation of two directional control or selector valve devices I04 and I05 which'are operative in accordance with the these devices may be of identical construction each comprising two oppositely seating poppet valves I01 and I08 contained in chambers I09 and H0, respectively, and having axially aligned fluted stems engaging each other in a chamber I'M. A spring H2 in chamber l09 acts onthe valve I01 for seating'same and, for, at the same IN and cam I02 in their neutral positions shown in Fig. 1, the plunger H3 is permitted to move away from the valve I08 to provide for seating of valve I01 and unseating of valve I08 by spring II2. 5

Initial movement of lever I01 in the direction or the left hand from a neutral position in which it is shown will actuate cam I02 and thereby the plunger II3 of the valve device I04 in the direction of valve I08 for seating said valve and unseating the valve I01, this change in condition of the respective valves being obtained by the time the lever IIll obtains the position indicated by the legend Stop and being then maintained in all positions of said lever beyond the Stop position. Movement of lever IOI in the direction of the right hand is adapted to seat valve'I08 and-unseat valve I01 in the valve device I05 by lever beyond the Stop position. When the lever IOI is' rocked toward the left hand for seating the valve I08 "and unseating the valve I01 of the valve device I04", the cam I02 provides for the valve I08 in the valve device I05 remaining open and the valve I01 remaining closed. When'the lever IN is moved toward the right hand to actuate the valve device I05 the valve I08 in the valve device I04 is adapted to remain open while the valve I01 is adapted to remain closed.

Chamber I09 in the valve device I04 is connected by a passage II6 to achamber H1 and. the corresponding chamber I00 in the valve device I05 is also connected to chamber II1 bya passage II8. Chamber III in the valve device I04 is-connected tothe control pipe 99 while the corresponding chamber in Valve device I05 is connected to the control pipe 98. Chamber H0 in each of the valve devices J04 and. I05

' is open to the atmosphere through a passage I l 9.

time unseating the'valve I 08. A plunger ,3,

is slidably mounted in the casing and has one end engaging cam I02 while the opposite end is disposed in chamber I I0. 'Ihis plung'er carries a pressure member II4.wh ich engages the valve I08.and a spring -I I5 acting on the pressure member for operating'same to seat said valve and unseat the valve I01 upon movement of plunger I I3 inthe direction of said valves. With the lever I m will connect the control pipe 99 to theat- From the above description it will be seen that upon movement of lever IOI from its neutral position shown in'the direction of the left hand the valve device I 04 will connect control pipe 99to chamber H1 While the valve devic I05 will open the control pipe 98 to the atmosphere. On the other hand if 'lever IOI is rocked in the direction of the right hand from neutral position the valve device I05 will connect'the control pipe 98 to chamber II1 while the valve device mosphere. 1

. The self-lapping valve device I06 i provided for supplying fluid under pressure to chamber I I1 and thereby to either pipe 98 or 98 as determined by the direction of movement of the control lever IOI and the consequent operation of the directional control valve devices I04 and I05.

The self-lapping valve device I06 comprises two spaced and axially aligned flexible diaphragms I22 and I23 which are rigidly clamped around their peripheries in the casing. Between these diaphragms is a chamber I24 which is constantly supplied with fluid from a supply pipe I28 at any desired pressure such as 100 pounds per square inch. At the opposite side of the diaphragm I23 is a chamber I21 which is constantly open to the atmosphere through a passage I28 while at the opposite side of diaphragmv I22 is a chamber I29 in constant communication through a port I30 with chamber II1.

A stem I3I in chamber I24 has one end clamped to the diaphragm I23 while the opposite end is clamped to the diaphragm I22, the means clamping said stem to diaphragm I22 embodying a guide element I32 projecting through chamber I29 and slidably mounted in a bore in the lower end of a sleeve I33 which is secured in the casing in axial alignment with the two diaphragms I22 and I23 and directly below the operating shaft I and cam I03. I

A poppet valve I34 is contained in chamber I in the upper end of stem I3I, which chamber is constantly supplied with fluid under pressure from chamber I24 by way of passages I35 in the stem I3I. Chamber I20 also contains a spring I36 acting on the valve I34 for urging same upwardly toward a seat provided on the adjacent end of the guide element I32.

The valve I34 has a fluted stem extending through a suitable bore in the guide element I32 into a chamber I31 provided in sleeve I33. The chamber I31 is constantly open through one or more ports I38 in sleeve I33, to the chamber II1 which encircles said sleeve. A release valve I39 in chamber I31 engages the end of the fluted stem of valve I34 and in turn has a fluted stem I40 mounted to slide in a bore in a plunger I4 I. The plunger MI is mounted to slide in sleeve I33 and has suitable guide portions I42 slidably engaging the inner wall of sleeve I33. A ring shaped packing I43 disposed above the guide portions I42 is expanded into an annular groove provided in the inner wall of sleeve I33 and has sliding con-v tact with the outer surface of plunger I4I for preventing leakage of fluid under pressure from chamber I31 along said plunger and out of the upper open end of sleeve I33. The bore in plunger contains a spring I45 acting on stem I40 of the release valve I39 urging said valve in a direction out of said bore and thus away from its seated or closed position against the end of said plunger. .An adjusting screw I46 is screw-threaded into the upper end of plunger MI and has a head l41 which engages the cam I03. A spring seat I48 is secured to the plunger I 4| above the end of sleeve I43 and interposed between this seat and the casing is a bias spring I49 which is operative against the spring seat I48 with a force just sufficient toui gethe plunger I4I out of seating engagement withthe release valve I39, as shown in the drawing.

In chamber I24 between the two'flexible diaphragms I22 and I23 is a coil control spring I50 encircling the stem I3I and having one end suption from this position. The two diaphragms MI is open above the packing I43 to the atmosphere through one or more ports I44 and said bore I22 and I23 are of equal areas so that the pressure of fluid in chamber I24 acting on the diaphragm I22 is opposed and balanced by said fluid pressure acting on the diaphragm I23. Thus spring I60 provides the only force for opposing movement of the diaphragms in a downwardly direction.

Operation With the lever IOI of the control valve device in its neutral position shown, the spring I49 acting on seat I48 will urge plunger I4I to the position shown in which said plunger is pulled away from the release valve I39 due to the action of spring M6 on said valve and also to the fact that the control spring I60 is expanded to its free height thus removing the force on said valve tending to urge same in an upwardly direction. Under this condition the spring I39 will hold the supply valve I34 in contact with its seat and chambers H1 and I29 will both be open to the atmosphere through ports I38, past the release valve I39 and thence through the bore in plunger I4I and ports I49.

With the control lever IOI in its neutral position the directional control valve devices I04 and I05 will both occupy the positions shown in which the valves I08 are unseated so that both control pipes 98 and 99 will be open to the atmosphere.

If the operator desires to supply fluid under pressure to control pipe 99 while retaining pipe 98 open to the atmosphere, he moves the lever IOI from its neutral position in a counter-clockwise direction, or in a direction indicated by the arrow bearing the legend "Ahead," to the position indicated by the legend Start." The initial movement of lever IOI out of neutral position actuates the cam I02 to reverse the valves of the directional control valve. device I04 to thereby' place the control pipe 99 in communication through passage I I6 with chamber I I1, while the directional control valve device I05 remains in the condition shown opening the control pipe 98 to the atmosphere.

As the lever IOI is thus moved to Start" position the cam I03 initially operates through the adjusting screw I46 to move the plunger I4I into contact with the release valve I39 and to then move said valve along with said plunger to unseat the valve I34. The cam I03 is so designed that the supply valve I34 will thus be unseated before the lever IOI obtains the stop position.

With the valve I34 unseated as just described fluid under pressure will flow from chamber I24 between the diaphragms past said valve to chamber I31 within sleeve I93 and then through passages I38 to chamber H1 and from chamber II1 through passage H8 and past valve I01 in the directional control valve device I 04 to pipe 99. At the same time as fluid under pressure is thus supplied to chamber I, it also flows through port I30 to chamber I29 at the top of diaphragm be readily apparent.

Such seating of valve I94 may'beprovided for by the time the pressure of fluid in chamber I29 and thus in the control pipe 99 is built up to a chosen degree such as seventy-five pounds, or if desired, the cam I03 may/b so designed as to maintain valve I34 open with the lever IOI in "start position so that fluldat the relatively high pressure, of for instance one-hundred pounds, supplied through pipe I26 to chamber I24 may be obtained in the control pipe 99.

If the operator now desires to reduce the pressure of fluid in pipe 99 he may move the lever IOI to the full position at the ahead side of the neutral position. This movement of the lever turns cam I03 so as to permit spring I49 acting on seat I49 to move plunger I4I upwardly to a position determined by the distance the .lever is out of neutral position, this movement of the plunger being away from the exhaust valve I39, since said valve will be held against movement at the time by the pressure of spring I45 and due to the fact that the pressure of fluid in chamber I29 above diaphragm I22 equals at least the opposing force of spring I50.

When the exhaust valve I39 is thus unseated, fluid under pressure will be released from pipe 99 through the directional control valve device I04 and past the release valve I39 to the atmosphere. As the pressure of fluid in pipe 99 is thus reduced a like reduction occurs in chamber I29 above the diaphragm I22 by Way of port I30, and this permits spring I50 to urge the diaphragms and the exhaust valve I39 in an upwardly direc- I tion toward plunger MI, and said valve will become seated against said plunger when the pressure of fluid in pipe 99 becomes reduced to a degree determined by the position of lever IOI,

cam I03 and thereby of plunger I4I. In full" position of lever IOI, the pressure of fluid thus provided or retained in pipe 99 may for instance be fifty-two pounds. i

If the lever I M is moved 'to "slow position, the greater displacement of plunger MI by spring I49, will permit the pressure in pipe 99 to be reduced to a degree such as seventeen pounds. A

proportionally greater pressure will be provided or maintained in pipe 99 in any position of lever Summary .It will now be seen that ii the pipes 98 and 99 are connected to a device arranged to provide certain desired operations in response to diflerent chosen pressures of fluid in either one of said pipes, while the other pipe is open to atmosphere,

IM between "full and slow positions, as will If'the lever I0 Iris turned to stop position, the cam I03 provides for further upward movement of plunger MI by spring I49- to again unseat the release valve I39, and the self-lapping valvestruc-- ture I06 will then again operate in the manner above described to effect a further reduction in pressure in pipe 99, to a degree such as ten pounds. Return of lever I 0| to its neutral position will allow complete release of fluid under pressure I r from pipe 99 since under this condition the spring I50 becomes fully expanded without seating the release valve I39.

If the lever IN is now moved from its neutral position in aclockwise direction or in the direcferent positions of the lever IOI at the astem side of neutral position as in the correspondingly named positions at the ahead side of neutral, whereby any desired degree or pressure may be provided inpipe 98, as will be apparent.

such pressures may be selectively provided by proper operation of the control device. ment of lever IOI in one direction from a neutral position will provide such pressures in one pipe, while movement in the opposite direction will provide like pressures in the other pipe; the pipe not being used for control being maintained open to the atmosphere.

The directional control valve devices are 01' simple inexpensive poppet type and it will be noted that these devices are operated by initial movement of the lever out of neutral positions and then merely maintained in such condition during further movement of the lever for operating the selflapping control device I06 and hence have no material eiTect upon the e'flort required on said lever for operating said self-lapping valve device.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters initial movement from a neutral position in one direction to effect operation of said selector valve means to connect said control valve'means to one of said pipes and to disconnect said control valve means from the other pipe and operable upon initial movement from said neutral position in the opposite direction to effect operation of said selector valve means to connect said con trol valve means to said other pipe and to disconnect same from said one pipe, said lever being operable upon movementfurther from neutral position in either directionto eifect operation of said control valve means to supply fluid under pressure to or to release fluid under pressure from the pipe connected thereto, the connection between said lever and selector valve means providing for movement of said lever relative to said selector valve means after the said initial movement in either direction from said neutral position.

" 2. A control valve device for. varying the pres sure of fluid in either one or another .of two pipes comprising a casing, fluid pressure control valve means in said casing operable to supply and release fluid under pressure, selector valve means in said casing for directing fluid provided by said control valve means to. either one or the other of said pipes, a lever in'said casing having a neutral position and being movable in either direction from neutral position, cam means operable by said lever upon an initial increment of movement of said lever in one direction from neutral position to effect operation of said selector valve means to connect said control valve means to one of said pipes-and to, close communication betweensaid control valve means and the other pipe and operable upon an initial increment of movement of said lever in the opposite direction from neutral position to-efiect operation of said Moveselector valve means to connect said control valve means to said other pipe and to close communication between said control valve means and said one pipe, said cam means providing for further movement of said lever relative to and without operation of said selector valve means in either direction after the said initial increments of movement, and means operabl upon movement of said lever in either direction from neutral position to eflect operation of said control valve means to supply fluid under pressure to and to release fluid under pressure from said selector valve means for governing the pressure of fluid in the pipe which is connected to said control valve means.

3. A control valve device for varying the pressure of fluid in either one or another of two pipes comprising a casing, fluid pressure control valve means in said casing operable to supply and release fluid under pressure, selector valve means in said casing for directing fluid provided by said control valve means to either one or the other of said pipes, a lever in said casing having a neutral position and being movable in either direction from neutral position, cam means operable by said lever upon an initial increment of movement of said lever in one direction from neutral position to effect operation of said sevalve means to open said one pipe to said chamher. and in the opposite direction to efiect operation of said selector valve means to open said other pipe to said chamber. said cammeans being movable further in either direction from neutral position relative to and without operating said selector valve means, a lever for operating said cam means, and other cam means operable by said lever upon movement thereof in either direction from neutral position to eilect operation of said control valve means to provide fluid in said chamber at a pressure corresponding to the extent of such movement from neutral position.

5. A manually operative control valve device for supplying fluid under pressure to either one or the other of two pipes comprising a casing, supply valve means operable to supply fluid under pressure for supply to said pipes, one selector valve means controlling communication between one of said pipes and said supply valve means and atmosphere, a second selector valve means controlling communication between the other of said pipes andsaid supply valve means and atmosphere, and a lever journaled in said casing and .operable upon movement in one direction to actuate the first named selector valve means to open lector valve means to connect said control valve selector valve means in either direction after the said initial increments of movement, means operable with said lever and cam means in neutral position to effect operation of said selector valve meansto open both of said pipes to atmosphere and operative upon movement of said lever in either direction from neutral position to open to atmosphere the one of said pipes which is disconnected from said control valvemeans, and means operable upon movement of said lever in either direction from neutral position to effect operation of said control valve means to supply fluid under pressure to and to release fluid under pressure from said selector valve means for governing the pressure of fluid in the pipe which is connected to said control valve means.

4. A control device for selectively controlling the pressure of fluid in either of two pipes comprising a casing, fluid pressure control valve ,means operable to supply fluid under pressure to and release fluid under pressure from a chamtively operable to open one of said pipes to said chamber and at the same time open the other to atmosphere, or to open the said other pipe to said chamber and at the same time to open said one pipe to atmosphere, said selector valve means being also operable to open both of said pipes to atmosphere at the same time, cam means for controlling said selector valve means and having a neutral position for effecting operation of said selector valve means to open both of said pipes to atmosphere andv being operable upon an initial increment of movement from neutral position in one direction to effect operation or said selector her in said casing, selector valve means selecsaid one pipe to said supply valve means and to actuate said supply valve means for supplying fluid under pressure to the connected pipe, said lever means being operable upon movement in another direction to operate said second named selector valve means for connecting the other pipe to said supply valve means and for also operating said supply valve means for supplying fluid under pressure to said other pipe, and means for actuating the selector valve device not operated by said lever 'to open the respective pipe to atmosphere. l 40 6. A control valve device for selectively supplying fluid under pressure to either one or the other of two pipes while opening the other pipe to atmosphere comprising in combination, a casing, a valve device operable to supply fluid under pressure to a chamber, one valve means controlling communication between one of said pipes and said chamber and atmosphere, a second valve means controlling communication between the other of said pipes and said chamber and atmosphere, means normally actuating each of said valve means for opening the respective pipes to atmosphere, a lever journaled in said casing, and cam. means associated with said lever operative upon movement thereof in one direction to actuate said one valve means to connect said one pipe to said chamber and to also actuate said valve device for supplying fluid under pressure to said chamber, said cam means being operable by said lever upon movement in a different direction to actuate the other valve means for connecting the respective pipe to said chamber and to also actuate said valve device for supplying fluid under pressure to said chamber.

7. A control valve device for selectively controlling the pressure of fluid in two pipes comprising a'casing, one poppet valve means in said casing operative to selectively open one of said pipes either to atmosphere or to a chamber, a second poppet valve means in said casing operable to selectively open the other of said pipes either to atmosphere or to said chamber, actuating means for operating each poppet valve means to the position for opening the respective pipe to the atmosphere, a shaft Journaled in said casing, a cam on said shaft for controlling both of one poppet valve means by its respective actuatsaid poppet valve means, a lever for operating said shaft and cam, said cam and lever having a neutral position providing for operation of both poppet valve means by their respective actuating means and being operative upon movement in one direction from neutral position to actuate said one poppet valve means to connect the respective pipe to said chamber and providing for operating of the other poppet valve means by the respective actuating means, and being operative upon movement in the opposite direction from neutral position to operate the said other poppet valve means to connect th respective pipe to said chamber and providing for operation of said ing means, valve means comprising a movable member operable to provide fluid in said chamber at a pressure proportional to movement of said member from a normal position, a second cam on said shaft for controlling said movable member and providing for movement of said member to its normal positionwith said cam and lever in said neutral position, saidcam and lever being operative upon movement in either direction from neutral position to move said movable member from normal position an amount proportional to the movement of said lever. ROY R. STEVENS. 

